LA LEGENDE DE SOEUR BEATRIX

1903 · Paris

by (BINDING - CLUB BINDERY, THE ROBERT HOE COPY). (POCHOIR). HENRI CARUCHET, Illustrator. NODIER, CHARLES

Paris: Librarie A. Roquette, 1903. No. 92 OF 150 COPIES on Japon (and another 10 copies on vellum paper). 251 x 160 mm. (9 7/8 x 6 1/4"). 2 p.l., 67, [1] pp., [2] leaves, followed by additional suite of etchings.
HANDSOME TAN CRUSHED MOROCCO, GILT, BY THE CLUB BINDERY (stamp-signed and dated 1905 on front turn-in), covers framed by gilt strapwork and multiple fillets, raised bands, spine compartments with similar gilt tooling, gilt lettering, densely gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. In a modern (slightly ill-fitting) suede-lined gray linen clamshell box backed with blue morocco. Illustrated throughout with elegant borders and scenes (truncated) surrounding the text, colored with pochoir. With an additional suite of illustrations, printed in black before letters. Front pastedown with morocco ex-libris of Robert Hoe and with bookplate of the Robin Collection. Spine uniformly a bit darkened, text margins with a hint of browning because of paper quality, but still a very pleasing copy with virtually no signs of use.

Bound by one of America's greatest binderies and once owned by the renowned collector Robert Hoe, this is a charming adaptation of a Medieval legend illustrated with delicate pochoir images by a popular French Art Nouveau artist. Originating in the 13th century, the story here concerns a pious sacristan whose faith is tested when she falls in love with a young noble. The pages are adorned with attractive borders inspired by nature, along with images from the story, all colored in soft hues that evoke an angelic, ethereal quality that fits perfectly with the themes of the legend. Our artist, Henri Caruchet (1873-1943), was a sought-after illustrator in the bibliophilic world, producing work for authors such as Octave Uzanne, Theophile Gautier, and Anatole France. The present work also contains a suite of uncolored illustrations printed before letters, allowing the viewer to appreciate how much the pochoir coloring does to enliven Caruchet's designs. Our binding is a product of the esteemed Club Bindery, founded by Grolier Club members and other wealthy collectors to provide, close to home, fine quality binding work rivalling what was available abroad. The workshop provided bindings that tended to be traditional in style--though frequently with elaborate decoration--and that lived up to its patrons' expectations in terms of excellence. The first members of the staff of the Club Bindery were the Englishmen R. W. Smith and Frank Mansell. They were subsequently joined by a number of French binders, chief among them being Léon Maillard, who had worked previously for Cuzin, Gruel, and Marius Michel. The Club Bindery was in operation until 1909, with Robert Hoe (1839-1911) being its most influential manager and client. Hoe was also the founding member and first president of the Grolier Club, and, according to Beverly Chew, his library was "the finest [America] has ever contained." He acquired illuminated manuscripts, early printing (he owned a Gutenberg Bible on paper and one on vellum), fine bindings, French and English literature, and Americana; when his library was sold in 1911-12, it fetched nearly $2 million, a record that held until the Streeter sale more than 50 years later.. (Inventory #: ST20279)

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Specializing in Bindings, Medieval Manuscripts, Early Printed Books, STC & Wing Books, Incunabula, English & American Literature, Fine & Private Press, Illustrated Books, Medicine.

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